Portland, you've changed history.
To the liberals, peace be with you. Tonight's protests were almost entirely peaceful. If we could get the attention of the media and majority through legal protests, then that's what we should do. If we could change the government through the legal means that are supposed to be available to us, then that's what we should do.
But, we need to face the facts. We are enemies of the very system that we hope we will change. Our government is not a true democracy as few people participate in or acknowledge the responsibilities of self-governance. Our legal system is classist (lawyers cost money; bail costs money; whites are typically handed less severe sentences for the same crimes as non-whites; money promotes legislators into election). The people who flair 'freedom' and 'liberty' as American rationales for war and consensus are, very unfortunately, products of the mind-numbing, consent manufacturing machine of the corporate system.
For example, immediately after Bush's televised ultimatum on Monday, a poll of about 700 people was conducted. This poll found that 77% of people who had viewed the speech were in favor of the US position as opposed to 60% of those who did not view the speech. A large number of the people polled (note that a post 5:00 PM telephone poll limited to people over 18 has specific demographics that are probably more in favor of the war than others to begin with) had seen the speech.
The result? A slight (and likely temporary) statistical increase in support of the president's position. This increase, which can be tied directly to the time of polling and the speech (how interesting the president's instruction to Iraqis to not destroy oil wells (in fact, it is considered a 'war crime')) has been bandied about all week long as though it was a meaningful increase in support for war.
Through the protests Tonight, far stronger than any since the 60's, a true spirit of freedom, democracy, and independence has been shown. The American people are not all drones. Despite the persistent efforts of the administration and it's corporate backers through media, legislation, and agression, has not destroyed the American love of liberty. Instead, more and more are coming around. More and more and seeing, perhaps for the first time, perhaps as reaffirmation, or perhaps as they have seen continuously: A Democracy must be governed by the people.
Today the people of Portland assumed there own governorship and demonstrated very effectively through efforts thought of these days as radical, that the basic human right to peace is worth defying centralized authority. That makes me very proud to be your countryman. Thank you, peace activists, for shutting down the city and starting up the evolution of the American consciousness.
p.s. Fuck off rightwing trolls!
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I know everyone thinks all this direct, totally radical action "accomplished" something, but trust me you only succeded in completely alienating the only people who you might have actually persuaded to your point of view... The middle class.
Any semi-politically astute person already knows this already. The big political battles are fought on the edges of the society for minority and upper class votes, but the middle ultimately decides close elections and they can be a fickle bunch. And if history holds true, in times of crisis and unstability they tend to seek the shelter of a more conservative administration.
The working lower class is already sympathetic, but too busy eeking out a living to pay any attention to you or to your cause. The upper class simply ignores you from behind their gated communities and could and will continue to care less. I'm guessng that contributions to the RNC will skyrocket in the next election cycle - your frolicking friends all but wrote the commericals and fund raising pamphlets tonight.
All that is left are the folks that were trying to get home to their families tonight after a hard days work while your merry bunch was blocking the highways and bridges. Think about it for just a second - the typically right-moderate leaning middle class will never join any of your protests now, especially if they think it will likely degrade into the idiocy that resulted tonight.
Unlike the great unwashed hippie crowd, they have too much to loose. They value their house, their car, the cruise they are planning this spring, and have spent their life working their way up in their careers and aren't going to risk having their boss see them on Action 8 news in "solidarity" with the idiots the "radicals" proved themselves to be tonight (especially not in this economy).
You probably alreay know this, but you screwed up...Mr. and Mrs. Slightly Above Average have tuned out - they watch the "corporate media" almost religiously, they listen to Rush and Shawn Hannity, not KBOO (the Right media is going to have a field day with this tomorrow - and bad for you, but they will be able to ridicule you tomorrow because the war is going well and they don't have to be "somber", they can yuk it up - the interns are in the studios right now working up the 1:30 bits that will be used to bump commercials tomorrow), they vote in huge numbers, and the coverage you got tonight from the local talking heads coupled with the early success of the war will make Rush's voice sound even sweeter to them tomorrow now that "order" has been restored. Their frustration and anger will send the next set of polls firmly into agreement with the government's actions in Iraq.
Tell your radical friends that unwittingly they did more damage to their cause than they could possibly ever realize. Hope you enjoyed the party, because the hangover will sting like hell tomorrow.
Were I a sincere, law abiding, bleeding-heart liberal dem I would be mad as hell with this childish and negative behavior that will haunt them during the next few years. After all, the Democrats were already on a fast track to self descruction and the successful execution of this war with minimal casualties will seal their fate in 2004. The good Rev. Sharpton will almost certainly assist the Greens and the whatever eco-splinter inserts themselves into the election to split the Democratic vote and Hillary or Mr. Lieberman just ain't gonna cut it to bring the party back together.
Now, since I'm not, I guess I should just say thanks for the help.
By the way, I think it is two words "right wing".